At 07:44 PM 2/25/03 -0600, you wrote: >Does anyone have any experience, advice, etc. regarding a paddling trip on the >Missouri River in Montana? I'm interested in a 3 to 6 day paddle with >no rapids - a family trip that could be done in canoes or sea kayaks. >I'd like to camp along the way. There aren't any rapids, to speak of on the Missouri. A couple of exciting tailraces below dams (including "Tailrace Rapids" in Great Falls, which is easily portageable). I've never been through the entire "Wild and Scenic" portion of the Missouri, but from growing up near there, knowing the country, and seeing photos of others' trips, I think it's over-rated. But, diff'rent strokes for different folks. You can do the entire river in sea kayaks or canoes. I actually think sea kayaks are preferable. There aren't many riffles or areas where the ease of entering/exiting a canoe is preferable, and often you might find yourself paddling against upstream winds where sea kayaks have a distinct advantage. Not that I'm against canoes--in western Montana, there are a number of rivers where canoes are preferable to both whitewater and sea kayaks. The 'Gates of the Mountains' area of the upper part of Holter Lake is gorgeous. My brother and I camped there last year during Labor Day--very busy with power boats. Any other time of year (barring late-summer weekend afternoons), it would be very tranquil. A loop trip would be fun out and back from the marina at Colter Landing in the late summer or fall (water hardly flows), or a one-way trip with a shuttle in the spring when the river is flowing more quickly. A 6-day trip from Upper Holter, through the Gates, across Holter Lake, portage down at Holter Dam, then floating the Missouri through the Wolf Creek Canyon to Cascade, MT would be gorgeous. (Easily done in 3 long days or 4 average days--6 days would be relaxing). Fish for trout, walleye, and perch. >I'm interested in seeing sites (sights) associated with Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery, but good paddling away from civilization would be the top priority. Most of Montana is far away from what most would consider "civilization". The largest city on the Missouri in Montana is Great Falls, at 55,000 people. There aren't any other "cities" even to speak of on the rest of the river--lots of communities in the 500-2,000 population range. Nearing the Bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery trip, you're going to be hard-pressed to avoid the maddening crowds. Period. They're going to be everywhere, accompanied by hawkers, vendors, "photographers", "journalists",...sightseers galore. You can likely camp at most places along the way. There are a lot of sandbars in the streambed where camping is 100% legal. You can also ask many landowners if you may camp in their pasture or at the edge of a field. (I imagine this privelege will become harder to come by after the crowds in 05 and 06). I grew up in Great Falls, BTW. Shawn __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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